Signs of cracks in PNG coalition government

Papua New Guinea's deputy opposition leader says the wheels are starting to come off the Peter O'Neill-led coalition government.

Sam Basil said his Pangu Pati has agreed to team up for next year's elections with a leading party in the government, the People's Progress Party led by the influential minister for petroleum and energy, Ben Micah.

The ruling People's National Congress party lured a number of MPs to its ranks this term, but lobbying to remove the prime minister recently intensified since the grace period for a motion of no-confidence lapsed.

The window is due to close again soon, but Mr Basil said that there is a groundswell of MPs dissatisfied with Mr O'Neill's handling of the economy.

He said this is especially the case with many public servants, teachers and health workers going unpaid for some time.

"The central bank is under great pressure to raise money to meet the government's commitments which have of course been overspent and mismanaged. That is not a good sign. The public are not supporting this government anymore. So we know that many political parties in the coalition attached to this current government are now talking to the opposition. They're talking amongst themselves and changes are imminent any time from now until the elections."

Mr Basil said it is a sign that parties within the ruling coalition are disillusioned with the leadership of prime minister Peter O'Neill and his People's National Congress party.

"We are all looking forward for the elections but whatever happens in between, we know that the sooner we put a stop to this government, the sooner we can shift this country away from the disaster that currently the prime mnister and his coalition are taking us to."